With Americans today taking a fresh look at all aspects of their lives, including financial, social and health, it makes sense that revisiting the rationale for some old habits is a good idea as well. Besides paring down household expenses, doing away with discretionary purchases, simplifying your life and putting more emphasis on quality family time, you can do yourself – and your family – a big favor by making some healthier choices for cocktail hour.
It’s Not Written in Stone
Whoever coined the words “cocktail hour” probably had some financial stake in getting Americans to drink alcohol. That’s just an assumption, and it may be wrong, but the fact of the matter is there’s nothing written in stone that says there is such a thing as a cocktail hour. Or, for that matter, that drinking is necessary to the preservation of life. Sure, you have the proponents that tout alcohol’s ability to make you feel more relaxed and to temporarily relieve stress from everyday problems. But a lot of other activities can do that as well – and they’re not potentially addictive.
Benefits of Not Drinking
Before we look at some healthier choices for cocktail hour, let’s go through some of the potential benefits realized by not drinking – or cutting out drinking altogether. Some of them may be a bit surprising.
• No alcohol = no addiction. You can’t become addicted to alcohol if you never start drinking in the first place. It’s as simple as that. This is a truth that many people never think about, believing, perhaps erroneously, that they will always be able to control their alcoholic intake and never have a problem with it. What people don’t take into consideration is that alcohol affects everyone differently. Women are more susceptible to alcohol’s effects (they become intoxicated faster) than men. Rate of intoxication varies wildly from one person to another due to general health, weight, height, medications and/or other substances taken, genetics, family history, and other factors. It is impossible to predict with any reliable accuracy when a particular individual will become intoxicated and to what extent they will be impaired. So, the first big benefit is that if you never drink, you will never become addicted to alcohol.
• Cutting out alcohol + treatment may = recovery. On the other hand, for many Americans, alcohol has been a part of their lives for some period of time. It is no longer a matter of never drinking in the first place, but more of what to do now that they have been drinking for years. There is a big benefit to be realized by cutting out alcohol consumption entirely and, for those who have a problem with alcohol (frequent blackouts, missing work, health problems, etc.) or who are alcoholics, getting treatment. For these individuals who make the conscious choice to be clean and sober and get help to overcome the disease, they have a very good chance of a successful recovery – to live their lives free of alcohol.
• Eliminating drinking saves money. It’s been many years since the days of the 5-cent beer. Cocktails or mixed drinks today can run $10 each or more. Premium brands are even more expensive. Take a husband and wife out for drinks on a Friday night, plus dinner with wine and possibly an after-dinner drink or two, and you’ve got a tidy sum spent. Popping over to the bar to spend a few hours with your buddies and knocking back beers followed by hard drinks, or just pitcher upon pitcher of beer, is similarly expensive. Think you’re saving money by buying booze and drinking at home? Even the cheapest brands (and who really drinks those anyway) add up. Over the course of a year, the tally just for alcohol can easily be hundreds of dollars – or more. Think what you could do with that extra money that would be much more beneficial.
• Lose calories by ditching alcohol. It’s a fallacy that there are no calories in alcohol. Some alcoholic drinks have fewer calories than others, but they generally all have some calories. Using alcohol calorie counters available on the Internet, here is a breakdown of some standard drinks:
o 1 fluid oz. 80 proof gin, rum, vodka, whiskey = 64 calories
o 1 can or bottle (12 fluid oz.) regular beer = 153 calories
o 1 can or bottle (12 fluid oz.) Bud Light beer = 110 calories
o 1 glass champagne = 91 calories
o 1.3 oz. Bailey’s Irish Crème = 94 calories
o Daiquiri (4 oz.) = 122 calories
o Martini (3.5 oz.) = 140 calories
o Manhattan (3.5 oz.) = 164 calories
o Margarita cocktail (4 oz.) = 168 calories
o Red wine (4 oz.) = 80 calories
o Dry white wine (4 oz.) = 75 calories
o Sweet wine (4 oz.) = 105 calories
o Whiskey sour ( 3 oz.) = 122 calories
• Maintain a clearer head and no down time. Even a couple of drinks can affect how you feel the next day. Avoid the dreaded hangover and lost time and productivity by eliminating drinking from your routine.
• Alcohol and medications don’t mix. Many people fail to recognize the potential negative interactions of alcohol and medications. Even if they see the warnings on the medications, they pay no attention to them. Avoid harmful, and potentially fatal, alcohol/medication interactions by not drinking alcohol.
• Be a safe driver – don’t drink and drive. Alcohol is a depressant and among its other drawbacks is the fact that it slows down reaction time, negatively affects judgment, planning and decision-making. This can prove disastrous when a person drinks and gets behind the wheel.
Healthier Alternatives for Cocktail Hour
None of what is said here is meant to imply that a reasonable and intelligent person cannot drink responsibly. Most Americans are able to be responsible drinkers. What is intended is to help bring about an appreciation for other ways to spend your free time, ways you can relax, reduce stress and feel good about yourself that do not involve alcoholic consumption.
There is no question that a great deal of media attention is being paid to the problem of alcoholism in today’s society. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and others devote a great deal of effort toward increasing public awareness of alcohol prevention, treatment and recovery programs and services.
The problem of alcoholism in America is real. So, too, is the increasing magnitude of problem drinkers – those who are not alcoholics, but experience difficulties related to their drinking. Alcohol prevention messages, school education programs, and parental influence and behavior all can help shape the attitudes of adolescents and teens. But everyone can benefit by taking a fresh look at alternatives to drinking.
• Drink non-alcoholic beverages. It may be difficult to just stop hanging out with your friends, at least at first. Start by ordering a non-alcoholic beverage – and don’t ask for a shot to give it a kick, either. Limit yourself to one drink and then excuse yourself. Say you have an appointment, are going to work out, play a sport, or meet the family for dinner or recreation.
• Arrange to meet elsewhere. Instead of hooking up at the bar or restaurant where you normally have drinks, suggest your friends meet you at another location. If the idea is to socialize, you can do that almost anywhere. It doesn’t need to be at a bar. Let’s face it. If you’re at a bar, you’re likely to drink, and to drink more than you intended. It is there, readily available, and being promoted by not only the bartender or waitress (“Anything to drink?”), but also your friends.
• Do something different. Who says you have to drink to have fun? Why not meet at the park or basketball court and engage in a sport? Go hiking, running, work out at the gym, or engage in a competitive sport. Go to a movie, visit a museum or art exhibit, or check out a special show.
• Get a massage. Relieve your tension and stress by getting a professional massage. You’ll probably spend about the same amount or less (you can get a good massage at a massage school for about $25 plus tip), and you’ll feel a whole lot better afterward.
• Learn something new. You’ve got some time on your hands, so why not allocate that time to learning something new? It can be a new hobby you’ve always intended to get into, or it may be that you want to learn a new language, go back to school and finish or begin your degree. The point is that you are more productive and doing something worthwhile for your future when you engage you mind – instead of just consuming alcohol.
• Work out. Exercise releases endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Work up a sweat and do your body and your mind a favor. You’ll become more toned, have better cardiovascular health, and you may even drop a few unwanted pounds.
• Laugh. How long has it been since you had a good laugh? We’re not talking about just polite laughter, but a real belly laugh? Did you know that hearty laughter uses almost every muscle in your body? There are an amazing number of health benefits from laughter, everything from reducing stress and emotional pain, to eliminating food cravings, connecting with others and providing a safe and natural physical and mental release. Laughter is also contagious, so when you laugh, others are likely to follow.
Encourage your laughter with a funny book, movie or comedy show. Tell a few good, clean jokes. Engage your funny bone and reap the many positive benefits.
• Do something for someone else. Drinking is a fairly selfish activity. Sure, you may be with others, but you are dulling your senses and telling yourself it is making you feel good. Instead of downing some drinks, why not go out of your way to do something for someone else? The possibilities are endless, but here are just a few. Volunteer to help those in need. This can be at a seniors’ home or assisted living residence, a children’s center, your child’s school, or a community or neighborhood program. Closer to home, surely you know someone on your block or nearby that could use some assistance. It may be the elderly neighbor whose wife is confined to her bed. It could be the family that has a seriously ill child or the person whose car is in the shop and can’t get out for errands. Offer to help your neighbor with yard work or painting or other heavy-duty chores.
• Be good to your parents. How long has it been since you called or visited your parents? Even if they live in town, time has a way of flying by and we often forget to pick up the phone and engage Mom and Dad in conversation. Don’t just call because you feel obligated to do so or need something from them in return. Better yet, bring them a gift – just because – or take them out to dinner to their favorite restaurant. Tell them you love them, even if it feels funny or strange and you’re out of practice. You’ll be amazed at how good it will make you feel to pay special attention to your parents – and they’ll get a lot out of it as well.
• Play with your children. Another excellent way to spend your free time is to play with your children. Too often, parents are so busy getting through their own day that they forget the needs of the children. Our kids require more from us than just meals, clean clothes, and someone to make sure their homework is done. We also need to listen to them and care about what they’re doing. But, you can do both by having fun with them. Before or after dinner, or on the weekends, go out for a walk as a family. Play board games or do sports together. Go camping, hiking, visit the children’s museum or go to the zoo, circus or other special event. Make it your goal to bring a smile to their faces, joy to their lives, and laughter to their lips. You can’t imagine the rewards you will reap simply by doing this. Think back to your own childhood and how great you felt when your Mom or Dad spent some special time with you. Then do the same for your children.
• Enrich your spirituality. While we’re on the subject of lifting the spirits of others (children, family, those in need), how about paying some attention to your own spirituality? Whether you belong to, practice, or believe in a religion, or simply believe in the power of the spirit, take the time now to become more in touch with your own inner power. Call it your soul, your inner being, whatever, but become more introspective. You can develop your heightened sense of spirituality through meditation, yoga, deep breathing exercises, prayer and self-reflection. Take instruction to learn how to do this, or teach yourself through books, CDs and DVDs. Expect to devote some time to get the hang of it (the learning curve), and be sure to include this in your daily planning. You want a block of time when you will not be distracted by outside influences – no ringing phones, radios, TVs – so that you can concentrate on developing your inner self.
These are just some recommendations to healthier choices for cocktail hour. There are countless others. Use your imagination, but start with these to get the ball rolling. You don’t have to be an alcoholic or have a problem with alcohol to see improvement when you give up drinking. Everyone can benefit from making healthier choices to the habit of consuming alcohol.
Remember, the new day and the new you begin now.
